M Rafi Ahmed
Inculcating good values to students is vital in the context of western culture having a great impact on the present gen due to globalization. American evangelist Billy Graham has rightly quoted—When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost. Yes, character building is the hallmark of education.
To make the students responsible citizens’, Satchidananda Jothi Nikethan International school at Kallar nestled on the backdrops of Western Ghats at the foothills of Nilgiris is leaving no stone unturned to nurture young minds to become physically strong, intellectually sharp, emotionally stable and spiritually enlightened to serve and lead the people in the right direction.
Keeping the age-old tradition alive based on the principles of Swami Satchidananda Maharaj, the global school makes it a point to conduct ‘Pada Pooja to Parents’ by the students aptly naming it as ‘Thiruvadi Vazhipaadu’ at their campus every year when Grade 12 students prepare for the public exams. As in the past, this time too, the girl students clad in their white churidar salwar suits and boys in white kurta and pyjamas washed the feet of their parents and sought their blessings.
The significance of Pada Pooja is solely to express gratitude to their parents since they are regarded as embodiments of Shiva and Parvathi. No doubt, this is a touching moment in their life as the parents bless their children arousing emotions and creating a lasting memory. Kudos to Satchidananda school for this annual event conducted at the end of the academic year making the students adhere to the ancient practice.
All the more, this age-old custom reminds the students of the country’s rich cultural heritage while making their parents’ hearts filled with eternal bliss. It is gratifying to note that Satchidananda school infuses young minds with values, knowledge, wisdom, sportsmanship and universal brotherhood through inspiration and teaching based on the principles of Gurudev without any compromise to the rich values, culture and traditions of the country.
Former CBI Director D S Karthikeyan emphasised the importance of parents and said,”Mother introduces God to us first. Then father. Then, we accept a guru who shows the way to get God. All these three train us to get the Lord.” He urged the students to develop good habits and to respect elders. Perur Adheenam Santhalinga Marudhachala Adigalar had a word of praise to the management for conducting the ‘Thiruvadi Vazhipaadu’.
Earlier, Managing Trustee K Ramasamy and correspondent Dr Kalidasan spoke on the occasion. Principal Dr Uma Maheswari welcomed while education advisor Dr Ganesan and vice principal Dr Sathivel were present at the event. ‘Yezhisai Vallabhi’ Sorna Somasundaram troupe conducted the ‘Thiruvadi Vazhipaadu’. Tamil faculty Dr Sivakumar and maintenance incharge Kannan made elaborate arrangements for the event. Though Guru is listed third in the Sanskrit adage–Mata, Pitha, Guru, Deivam–they play a paramount mantle in the student’s life.
